“I Wanted 13, My Dad Wore 13”- Derek Jeter Reveals Why New York Yankees Did Not Give Him the Jersey Number of His Choice

In the past 15-20 years, there has probably not been a better player than the Yankees legend, Derek Jeter. He is one of the very few players in MLB history who have played for a single team all throughout their careers. Jeter’s consistent gameplay and down-to-earth nature made him one of the baseball greats.

Apart from his illustrious career with the Yankees, Jeter’s jersey number is another talking point of his career. Notably, after three years of Jeter’s retirement in MLB, the Yankees also retired his jersey number in 2017, paying tribute to one of their greatest players of all time.

Jeter’s number two for the Yankees is an iconic jersey number. But the same was never his first choice.

What jersey number did Derek Jeter desire?

Just like his legendary career, Jeter’s number two was equally iconic. But, as per Jeter himself, donning the number two was never his first choice. Instead, the Yankees legend wanted to wear number 13, because his father also wore 13.

However, the New York Yankees were not able to give him the jersey number of his choice. Because at that time, another Yankees player, James Laures, was wearing number 13.

Read more: Would Derek Jeter Beat Michael Jordan in a Golf Match? Yankees Legend Weighs In – “He’s Been Playing His Whole Life”

While talking to Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on the Players’ Tribune podcast, Jeter said that he had never wanted to wear the number two jersey. 

“First of all, I didn’t decide on it. When I first got there, they gave me a number two. I think they gave it to me, cause it was the smallest jersey. There was a guy by the name of Mike Grieco, that wore number two before I did,” said Derek Jeter.

“I wanted 13. My dad wore 13, I always tried to wear 13. But James Laures was wearing, so I didn’t get 13.”

Derek Jeter steps away from as Miami Marlins

After almost five years of his association with the Miami Marlins, Derek Jeter on Tuesday stepped down as the C.E.O. of the baseball team. Notably, the Yankees legend had 4% shares of the Marlins. But Jeter, in his statement, has confirmed that he will no longer serve as an investor nor a shareholder with the Marlins.

WATCH THIS STORY: From Babe Ruth To Derek Jeter: New York Yankees Legends Who’s Jersey Number Has Been Retired

Apart from Miami Marlins, Jeter also owns The Players’ Tribune, a platform for the athletes to connect with their fans in their own words.